Nancy S. Mure's Blog

One Ridiculously Easy Way to Hydrate At The Gym

The question of "How much water should I drink a day?" is a familiar one. The recommended amount of water is eight glasses of eight ounces of water per day -- that's 64 ounces of water each day --  a whopping half gallon!

Who makes these rules up and why do we follow them? So often we go to the gym, workout, then drink a ton of water without ever truly becoming hydrated. We mindlessly drink high amounts of water because some obscure authority told us we need eight glasses of eight ounces of water per day. That being said, if we were focused more on hydrating mindfully, we wouldn't be so thirsty. 

Why are you drinking so much water? 

You may be drinking several bottles of water at the gym, not because you're dehydrated, but because you're working out hard and perhaps your diet has left you genuinely thirsty. There are many reasons for why an individual will force themselves to drink loads of water. You may also be trying to quench your thirst with drinking plain old bottled water -- water that flushes out vitamins, minerals, enzymes and never completely replaces them. In fact, mineral water doesn't even come close. 

If you think about it, how is this efficient? You focus on eating well all week, exercise, sweat excessively while simultaneously flushing out every essential vitamin and mineral you took in, simply by drinking the recommended 64 ounces of bottled water a day. It's insanity. 

What is more, if you're drinking your water from a plastic water bottle you're likely storing that plastic in your liver, which has been shown in studies to contribute to fatty liver. This storage of plastic actually leads to gain weight, and is also counterproductive to your efforts. As a result, you're leaving the gym -- having worked your tail off for an hour or more dehydrated, toxic, and deficient, having to rely on your diet to replenish lost nutrients. If your diet isn't balanced and highly nourishing, you'll can never replace the nutrients you've lost. 

An excerpt from EAT! -- Empower. Adjust. Triumph!: Lose Ridiculous Weight explains it like this:

"Drinking “eight glasses of water per day" is a rule of thumb propagated by the water industry. Not all of our water intake need come in the form of drinking bottled tap water. As I have stated in this book, the absolute best way for humans to get their water is to eat it. Water from a fruit and vegetable source has a high nutrient benefit that tap water doesn’t have. Fruits and vegetables are the only two food sources on earth that contain water and this benefit is provided for your advantage. When you “eat your water” you’re not only getting replenished, you’re getting nourished at a cellular level by a multitude of vitamins, minerals, natural enzymes and fiber built right in."

Always Drink According To Your Level Of Thirst

You might wonder then, how much water should I drink a day? Well, the answer is ridiculously simple: always drink according to your level of thirst. Let your body guide your replenishing, instead of forcing yourself to drink according to obscure guidelines. Hydrating is as much an individual thing as dieting. It's best to tune in to the signals of your body. That being said, if you find your mouth is dry in between sets, the most efficient way to hydrate at the gym, while truly quenching your thirst, is by naturally replacing vitamins, minerals and electrolytes as you train. Sound like a tall order? Nature's got you covered.

Fruit Contains Electrolytes

Thanks to mainstream media we've become conditioned to equate getting our electrolytes from Gatorade. Sadly, because of this conditioning, it isn't our first instinct to seek nature as a source of replenishing electrolytes -- we tend to reach for what's convenient instead of what's efficient -- then of course, there are those toxic plastic Gatorade bottles to deal with. 

Generally, electrolytes are made up of sodium, potassium, calcium and bicarbonate. There are many natural foods that contain electrolytes. The simplest and most efficient way to replenish electrolytes at the gym is ridiculously easy. Simply squeeze the juice of one small lemon into your water.

Squeezing fresh lemon, into your water, especially in the morning;

hydrates you more efficiently, so need to refill less while training.gently cleanses your liverreplenishes your lost electrolytesdecreases your thirst. 

To avoid BPAs, and plastic toxicity it is always best to drink your water from a glass water bottle instead of a plastic water bottle. If you don't like lemon, you may add a squeeze of fresh lime or orange into your water bottle with the same amazing results.

Hydrating Doesn't Stop At the Gym

To continually hydrate yourself and restore essential trace minerals and other nutrients post-workout, simply increase your daily intake of fruits and leafy green vegetables, instead of drinking water. Eating mostly fruits and vegetables is incredibly hydrating and will only serve to fuel your workout. 

Celery juice post-workout is a terrific way to replenish lost vitamins and mineral salts in one fell swoop, as well as calcium and silicon, which aid in the repair of damaged ligaments and bones. Celery is also rich in vitamin A, magnesium, and iron. Additionally cucumbers, apples, berries (especially wild blueberries), citrus or melons are excellent for hydrating post-workout. Feel free to add leafy greens liberally when making green juices or smoothies.

Remaining mindful of proper hydration at the gym by adding lemon to your water bottle as well as  "eating your water" post-workout will serve to replenish your vitamin reserves, improve your recovery time by fifty percent, feed your muscles the glucose they need to repair themselves and grow, while maintaining or even improving your overall health. 

 

 

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The One Food That Stops Gum Bleeding Fast

The mouth has always been a tell-tale sign of illness. We say "Ahhhhh" at the doctor's office to determine illness, yet when we open wide at the dentist's office there's a huge disconnect between our overall health and oral health. Take for instance bleeding gums.

Bleeding Gums Can Spell Trouble

Bleeding gums are a common condition and generally the result of poor dental hygiene, although sometimes they are the result deficiencies, especially during pregnancy. That being said, persisting and severe gum bleeding is a more serious affair, as well as an indication of periodontal disease. Severe periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is irreversible and often co-exists with type 2 diabetes, according to studies. 

Common natural treatments for bleeding gums usually include topical treatments such as a scaling, mouth rinses and even surgery. However, the benefits of celery juice far outweigh these.

Gut health and Gum Recession

Before we get into the benefits of celery juice, let's look at how gum health is affected by other goings on in the body. Low stomach acid can be an unwelcomed by-product of aging. This is because as we age we produce less stomach acid and deal more and more with gastric reflux, or GERD. One reason people struggle with receding gums is not directly because of GERD, but because of poor gut health. When you are sleeping, gastric acids can leech up into the mouth causing gum recession.

Another issue impacting gum health is poor digestion. When food is unable to break down properly during digestion it putrefies in the gut. This putrefaction produces backup. The back up produces an ammonia gas, and much like a fish tank whose water hasn't been changed, the toxic ammonia gas rises up into the mouth eating away at the gums and teeth over time. 

Celery juice is a miracle food

Celery Juice is a miracle food in terms of its healing abilities. The benefits of celery juice are plentiful. Celery juice not only increases the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, celery juice also helps to heal high blood pressure, psoriasis and high cholesterol and aids in reversing type 2 diabetes, by cleansing the liver.

The best natural treatment for receding gums is to restore hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This can only be done by adding mineral salts from plant-based foods into the diet. An efficient way to get more mineral salts into the diet is to drink sixteen ounces of celery juice daily on an empty stomach. Mineral salt is essential for the function of the brain as well as the electrical conduction of the heart. The fastest benefit of celery juice is healing the gums. Celery juice ends gum bleeding within in 1-3 days. If you had to opt for that one do-it-all natural treatment to improve your health, drinking celery juice everyday would be an excellent place to start. 

Finally, dental health being reflective of overall health has become a more accepted idea. A more "wholistic" approach to illness sees a patient's symptoms as indicative of each other, as opposed to separate from each other. Treating the whole patient in this way gives a broader picture of how dental health can precede most disease, and even be our best natural screening technique warning us of what's to come. 

Recipe: Ridiculously Healthy Sweet Potato Hash

You have not lived until you've mingled the sweet and delicately spicy flavors of my ridiculously easy sweet potato hash. I kid you not -- it's that good!

Sweet potatoes are ridiculously nutritious. They're colorful, packed with antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamins C, E & D, and minerals such as manganese, potassium and iron. Sweet potatoes also do a remarkable job of satisfying your craving for something sweet.

It's a little known fact that sweet potatoes are calming to the body on a cellular level as well as the digestive tract.

Known to be highly protective against cancer, sweet potatoes are by far the perfect go-to food to reach for when you want to a quick and healthy meal. Since they're easy on the digestive tract, sweet potatoes are great for relieving constipation and excellent at binding to and removing heavy metals from the body, such as lead.

All that nourishment and goodness led me to creating this delicious sweet potato hash for you. The really great thing about this dish is, it's versatile. A variation on this dish if you're craving animal protein, is to add some cubed turkey breast in the mix. If you're feeling that's not enough, you may want to top off the hash with a farm-fresh egg. 

For those who relish a jacked-up plant-based meal like I do, my ridiculously easy sweet potato hash can stand on its own simply topped with an avocado. This recipe boasts only a handful of ingredients that are readily available and budget friendly. Did I mention the gorgeous fall colors? 

Let's get to it. You will need:

1- 2 organic sweet potatoes peeled and cubed1 tablespoon organic coconut oil1-2 organic scallions chopped1  teaspoon chopped red organic hot pepper or 1 chopped green organic serrano pepper1 small ripe organic avocado slicedDirections:

In a cool cast-iron pan add cubed sweet potatoes with coconut oil. Cook for eight-ten minutes on medium heat.

Add scallions and hot peppers and toss for another two-three minutes until sweet potatoes are caramel in color and soft, but slightly firm to the touch. (You don't want soggy, overcooked sweet potatoes.)

Season with himalayan salt and pepper to taste. 

 

Plate the sweet potato hash, then top with fresh avocado (as pictured above.) Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve!

Serves 1-2

Copyright Nancy S. Mure, 2016

How Not To Poison Trick-or-Treaters This Halloween

Growing up, I remember how excited I would get for Halloween trick-or-treating to begin. I'd rush home from school, put on my costume and mask, then run off with my sister to collect ginormous amounts of candy.

Of course the day wasn't a success unless our trick-or-treat bags were overflowing.

As a rule, we couldn't eat our candy until Mom sifted through the stash to ensure there were no loose candies or opened wrappers, since the big fear was candy tampering or worse, poisoning.

Alarmingly, today's parents still face the same food safety challenges, although they're being tricked by assuming the candy their children collected is safe.

In fact, parents needn't look any further than the candy's nutritional label to see their child, is by all accounts, being poisoned.

Yes, poisoned.

I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but what else would you call a processed foodstuff that sends your child's otherwise healthy immune system into overdrive, then repression?

Candy made from toxic substances like artificial colorings, preservatives, additives, MSG, refined sugar and GMOS, are in all truth, poisonous to the living organism, which makes your child's Halloween candy more of a dirty trick than a innocent treat. 

Flu season begins in October because ... 

An little known and unrecognized fact is that the flu is a diet related disease. The flu is vital action against a body that is malnourished and inadequately fed. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the vitality and health of a child disappears when they are depleted and their nutrition is inadequate. 

It is also no coincidence that the flu season begins in October as America's children load up on Halloween candy and continue to indulge in holiday treats well through Valentines Day. This type of junk eating, coupled with a reduction in Vitamin D from the sun during the cooler months, lays the groundwork for what is known as "flu season."

Refined Sugar Is A Depressant Of The Immune System

An undisputed study from 1973 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that for several hours after ingesting sugar, neutrophils, a form of white blood cells, were less effective at engulfing bacteria. 

Put simply, refine sugar depresses the immune system. 

If we have known since 1973, that refined sugar depresses the immune system. why haven't food companies done anything about it? Don't count on candy companies to move on this issue anytime soon. Their business is selling candy. It's up to us, the consumers to be well informed.

Then There's High Fructose Corn Syrup

If sugar depresses the immune system, what does High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) do? A Princeton University research team concluded that when it comes to weight gain, rats gained significantly more weight than those rats having access to refined sugar, even when overall caloric intake was the same.

HFCS is not a natural food. It is a genetically modified creation and by all accounts when it comes to your child's health, it is a sweet poison that causes your children to pile on the weight.

Food Companies Tamper With Candy More Than Anyone

By now you've heard of the antagonistic properties of artificial food colorings on children with ADHD, and the petroleum and tar (yes you heard that correctly) in your children's chewy candies. There's also trouble where ingredients are labeled "natural flavors," as this is a hidden form of MSG-- and it's doing a number on your child's brain health. 

While there are some companies that will be dropping these ingredients by 2017, it couldn't happen fast enough. That being said, you can avoid poisoning children this Halloween by making informed choices in what you decide to allow your children to eat and by what candy you distribute. 

Give Candy With a Purpose

Another way that candy really hurts children is in how it's processed. Thanks to holidays like Halloween, the candy business is a booming 70-billion-dollar industry. Hershey's, Nestle's and other candy companies use the human trafficking, slavery and brutal labor practices of 2.3 million children in the cocoa fields of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to get their poisonous product to your child.

To avoid all the poisons that the trick-or-treating season brings, buy candy from sustainable companies with legitimate practices and moderate how much candy your children eat to preserve their health. By distributing candies that make a difference, you can support fair trade chocolate, organic and non-GMO candy companies by voting with your dollars.

Fair trade dark chocolate minisFair trade milk chocolate minisYummy Earth lolly popsAnnie's Home Grown Organic Bunny SnacksBitsy's Brainfood Smart Cookies (Nut Free)

By keeping an eye out for the tricks this Halloween and avoiding ingredients such as GMO soy, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial colorings, MSG, petroleum, tar, preservatives and other additives and ingredients in your child's trick-or-treat bag you can ensure you Halloween is a safe and happy one.

 

 

 

12 Natural Medicine Cabinet Must Haves

Big Pharma hasn't been getting a lot of love lately.  

With pharmaceutical company greed exposed and the price gauging of prescription drugs, many Americans are flocking toward natural remedies faster than we can say the word "go". As a result, there's a steadily stream of folks losing trust in their physicians and the modern medicine that keeps them in practice -- and they're losing it fast. 

Not shockingly, a whopping 70 percent of Americans rely on at least one prescription drug, while more than half take two, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center. The most commonly prescribed drugs are opioids (13 percent), antidepressants (13 percent) and antibiotics (17 percent). 

Medications Are The Biggest Cause of Illness

A new study reports that medications are the biggest cause of sudden deaths related to allergic reactions. Among the most common is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, according to Allergyfacts.org.

Thing is, allergies, no matter what their cause, mean big bucks for both U.S. and international pharmaceutical companies, which earn billions in sales off of many different branded products, according to Forbes, so while Big Pharma hears cha-ching every time you have an allergic reaction, you involuntarily become their guinea pig. Yay you.

While there's a place in the world for life-saving medications, daily use of multiple over-the-counter and prescribed medications needn't be the norm of everyday life. True healing exists.

Education vs. Medication

Your health is a simple matter of education vs medication. Once you understand the root cause of disease, you can take the natural steps towards healing it. It is a little known fact that every disease begins with one cause; inflammation. While inflammation is always protective, in today's world, the epidemic of chronic, low-grade inflammation is not, which causes more destructive to the balance of your body.

Inflammation can be caused by injury, infection and allergic reaction. A simple way to remember that inflammation is at the root of all illness is to remember that every disease ending with the suffix 'itis' indicates inflammation. To give an example; bronchitis would be an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, while tonsilitis or thyroiditis would be inflammation of the tonsils or thyroid. Diseases that don't end in itis can also involve inflammation. A key driver of heart disease, according to a recent Harvard report is--- you guessed it-- inflammation.

True Power Is Knowing How to Heal Yourself

Now that you know that the root cause of disease is likely inflammation, you are armed with information you need to begin your journey toward reversing it. One major player in creating inflammation in the body is the Standard American Diet. High amounts of mucus-causing animal products, such as meat and dairy, are recommended to be on your dinner plate every night. This coupled with high amounts of fast and processed foods are inflammation-causing, and they're keeping you chronically sick. That means, your daily nutrition habits are by far are your best line of defense against both inflammation and illness.

As I discuss in my book EAT! Empower. Adjust. Triumph!: Lose Ridiculous Weight there's a world of difference between being nourished and being fed. While American's are well fed, they are vitamin and mineral deficient, overweight, malnourished and overmedicated, which is why we are the sickest nation on earth. 

When you are nourished, eating a low in animal products and devoid of the fast and processed foods approved, and even recommended, by the FDA, you are the best-equipped at staving off disease. That being said, dealing with illness once it occurs doesn't have to mean multiple trips to the doctor and pharmacy. In most cases, you can heal yourself  and your family right at home -- that is, if your natural medicine cabinet is properly stocked. 

Natural Remedies Help With More Than One Ailment

The really cool thing about natural healing is it's multi-tasking abilities. Nature is a healing trove of wild foods that contain vitamins and minerals that help to heal more than one symptom and bring balance back to the body. With a well stocked arsenal of natural treatments, coupled with proper nourishment and some good old-fashioned natural healing techniques, you can get back to life as you know it, healthier and stronger than you were before, without reactions, side effects or without negatively impacting your gut health. If that sounds good to you, below is a list (complete with Amazon links) of what you will need, should unexpected symptoms of illness appear.

Colloidal Silver - Believe the hype! Colloidal Silver is a silver-based antibiotic, which has been used as a remedy well before the advent of penicillin. Colloidal silver is a positively charged, bioactive silver hydrosol, which makes it antibacterial and effective both topically and internally. Use colloidal silver for cuts, eye, ear infections, tooth abscesses or as a preventative for bacterial infections.  Elderberry Syrup - is a potent, antiviral, anti-bacterial, anticancer syrup made from the elderberry, which is highly antioxidant and healing. Elderberries are an excellent source of Vitamin B17. Elderberry syrup can be used for bronchial and respiratory problems and to loosen and expel congestion in the lungs. It also has an overall uplifting affect on the immune system and is best taken daily as a preventative. Mullen Garlic Ear Drops - Garlic contains very strong antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, and anti-viral properties. It can be used to remove intestinal worms and to strengthen the lymphatic system. Garlic annihilates H-pylori and is also particularly affective for healing ear infections.  Goldenseal/Echinacea throat spray - Goldenseal is a godsend if you're dealing with a sore throat. Goldenseal has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory attributes, and is also highly nutritive containing, the vitamins and minerals C,A,E & B-Complex, iron, calcium and manganese. When coupled with Echinacea, which is also highly antiviral, Goldenseal helps your body heal quickly from colds, flu, sore throat caused by strep and mono, as well as sinusitis, hay fever, bronchitis, canker sores, enlarged lymph glands, ear infections, gingivitis, enlarged prostate, urinary tract infections, and yeast infections. Echinacea is also an excellent blood purifier.Oil of Oregano - Oregano isn't only delicious on your pizza! Oregano is a popular herb that is highly nutritive, also boasting a good amount of vitamins like C,A,K and B-complex. Oregano is an amazingly strong and effective anti-bacterial that aids with intestinal discomfort, and relief from bloating and gas. Oil of oregano is sold in easy to take capsules and is also very effective in cleansing the blood.Eyebright - has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic properties. Eyebright is a tiny herb that is beneficial for soothing eye-related problems like pink-eye, styes, blurry or weakened vision, and cataracts. Use it together with one or two drops of colloidal silver in the eye for fast healing of styes, which are known to be caused by the strep bacteria. Cat's Claw - is nature's steroid. It has powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties. Cat's claw doesn't come from a cat like the name implies, rather it comes from a barky vine, which possesses thorns that look like a cat's claws. Cat's claw helps with almost any inflammatory condition, especially, knee pain, bursitis, frozen shoulder, tooth pain, plantar fasciitis, and appendicitis to name a few. Cat's claw's anti-inflammatory properties help to relieve arthritis, gout, bowel disorders, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and leaky bowel syndrome. If you've been diagnosed with any ailment that ends in 'itis', you'll want to have Cat's Claw handy.Manuka honey is a wondrous, healing, antiviral and antibacterial. Manuka honey trumps all antibiotic ointments on the market when it comes to healing injuries and has a shelf life of over twenty years. Manuka honey used topically, is a must for cuts and bruises, while cutting healing time in half. What's more, Manuka honey can also be used on pet injuries without the danger of your pet licking it and being poisoned. Lemon Balm is perhaps the most versatile part of your natural medicine cabinet arsenal. Lemon balm is hugely antiviral, so if you're dealing with herpetic viruses such as canker sores, shingles and Epstein Barr Virus,  Lemon balm has you covered. Lemon balm doesn't come from lemons, it is a powerful herb that comes from the mint family. Lemon Balm is highly useful in calming the nerves (as in the entire nervous system.) Lemon balm is also ultra effective on the bladder and kidney, helping to reverse UTIs and yeast infections. Lemon balm is great for reliving insomnia, night sweats, gastritis, indigestion, IBS, and stopping diarrhea. Lemon balm also halts histamine reactions related to allergies and can be taken as a tea.Turmeric  is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-depressant often used for headaches, back pain and joint pain. The active ingredient in turmeric is Curcumin, which has been shown in scientific studies to be as powerful and as ibuprofen, without the gut-bacteria-killing side effects. Curcumin has also been proven strong enough to replace sixteen prescription medications in your conventional medical cabinet! If that's not enough, Curcumin possesses preventative anti-cancer properties, and is known to help inhibit the growth of prostate, skin, colon, mouth, esophagus, lung, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and breast cancer.  Activated Charcoal comes in hand when you've eaten something toxic. Activated charcoal is a magnet for irritants or toxins ingested into the body that you want to get rid of quickly. Usually used in cases of emergency for poisoning, activated charcoal is swift in absorbing and removing poisons from the bloodstream safely and efficiently. Activated Charcoal is also safe to use on your pets. Ionic Zinc - If you have the shingles virus, are allergic to mold, if you are chemically sensitive, you want more of the mineral zinc in your life. Zinc is just not abundant in our food supply the way it should be leaving us all critically deficient. Zinc is important because it fights against pathogens caused by the shedding of viruses in our bodies, like the Epstein Barr and shingles Viruses. These pathogens are what ignites autoimmune responses in the body and zinc is your only armor against them. Take zinc!Take care of you!

Knowing inflammation the the root cause of disease should ease your mind. Once your nutrition is corrected, your levels of emotional and digestive stress will become reduced, and this in itself, is very healing! 

While on this path of true healing, you will find your natural medicine cabinet to be highly effective in correcting and maintaining your overall health. If you haven't already done so, stock up your natural medicine cabinet today. You'll be glad you did!

 

Got Mono? Here's how to fight it Naturally

 

Heading off to college is the first giant step toward independence for many teens. As an autonomous member of your family, you are suddenly left to fend for yourself, while sharpening your problem-solving skills and advancing into adult life. It's an educational, stressful and fun time. 

However, once left to your own devices, college life may cause your health to plummet. Poor nutrition, enclosed dorm conditions, forced heating and cooling, coupled with, academic stress, social activities, anxiety and other outside circumstances can inevitably burden the body, laying the groundwork for illness.

Some of the most popular campus ailments include, but are not limited to; upper respiratory infections, Influenza, stomach viruses, and conjunctivitis.

Then there's Mononucleosis, taking down one out of every two hundred college students in one fell swoop.

What is Mononucleosis?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Mononucleosis or Infectious mononucleosis, (also called “Mono,”) is a contagious disease caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV.) EBV is herpetic in nature, like the herpes virus. Enlarged spleen and a swollen liver are typical symptoms of Mono. For some people, the liver or spleen or both can remain enlarged, even after fever and fatigue ends. A blood test is used to diagnose the disease.

Mono is transmitted by saliva, which is why it's commonly called the "kissing disease." Over 3 million cases of Mononucleosis are reported each year. Symptoms generally include:

FatigueFeverRashSwollen glands in the throat and lymph nodesMedical Doctors Say There's Nothing You Can Do For Mono

There isn't a whole lot recommended by way of medical treatments to relieve the symptoms of Mono, or prevent EBV from making its permanent home in your body, Once diagnosed, doctors often recommend rest for  2-4 weeks, avoiding sports and alcohol, drinking fluids and taking over-the-counter pain meds to ease Mono symptoms. It is a virus after all. 

When You Know More, You Can Do More. 

Dealing with Mono and it's evil twin EBV can be done naturally once you know what you're dealing with. EBV has four stages according to Anthony William, Medical Medium:

Stage 1  - is the dormant period. EBV is in your bloodstream getting ready to strike.Stage 2 - Mono is present. Symptoms appear and the virus looks for a permanent home in one or more of your organs.Stage 3 - EBV nestles itself in the liver or spleen and/or other organs where it strengthens to make its next move.Stage 4 - EBV gets into and inflames the central nervous system wrecking havoc on your body.

Getting a diagnosis of Mono means you are in Stage II of the disease. Essentially, your body is now at war with EBV, fighting hard not to let the virus make its home in your organs. Sadly, the nature of EBV is so insidious and unrelenting, that a weakened body often loses the fight when nothing is done to prevent it. This is why it is essential to make an heroic attempt to take down EBV's viral load before it sets up camp. 

Offense Is the Best Defense

Now that you know what the Epstein Barr virus has planned for you, its time to strike back. You must take an active role in heading EBV off at the pass, now. this is your only opportunity to cut off the Epstein Barr Virus before it has the opportunity to multiply. Thankfully, this can be done easily and effectively and you can heal, but you'll need to follow some rules.

Rule No. 1: Do not feed Epstein Barr

A virus can not feed and reproduce by itself; instead, it needs a host to accomplish this. The Epstein Barr Virus sustains itself by feeding off of foods you eat. It also feeds on heavy metals in the bloodstream and it feeds of adrenaline that is caused by stress. You have to stop feeding Epstein Barr Virus now. This means adopting a plant-based diet that is void of dairy, wheat, corn, and soy, which feed the virus.

Rule No. 2: Drink liquids With A Purpose

Some people think they can flush EBV out of the body if they drink enough water. This is simply not true. What you're flushing out of the body are body salts and other trace minerals, and you need these to remain healthy. Drinking liquids with a purpose means nourishing yourself with fresh organic juices and herbal teas as much as possible during this time. Both juices and teas are highly beneficial to healing. Fresh citrus juices, lemon tea and ginger tea are particularly health promoting, cleansing and anti-inflammatory.

Rule No. 3: Take down Epstein Barr's Viral Load

There are plants and food provided by nature that have antiviral properties strong enough to knock down your viral load safely and efficiently. These foods taken in combination can help stop EBV from highjacking your cells. 

Raw organic honey is an amazing source of phytonutrients. It has antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-aging and anticancer properties that help to stop EBV from making a home in your body. Honey can be eaten raw, by the tablespoon, or could be added to warm water with a squeeze of lemon to get a maximum healing benefit. Vitamin C is vital to take during the Mono phase of EBV, and beyond. Vitamin C is highly anti-inflammatory and encourages healing. Vitamin C is especially healing if the source of it is fresh (preferably organic) juices from wild berries, grapes, oranges or grapefruit juices. If fresh juices are not available, Vitamin C can be supplemented. Both Ester C or Liposomal Vitamin C are the most bioavailable.L-lysine is an amino acid that is major disruptor of EBV. L-lysine impairs the ability of the virus' cells to move and reproduce, stopping EBV in its tracks.Spirulina is a blue green algae with major nutrition and health benefits! Spirulina is one of nature's most effective super-foods/multi-vitamins. It can jack up your immune system enough to help fight off EBV and Mono symptoms quickly and efficiently and lays the groundwork for health.Elderberry Syrup is another amazingly effective booster of the immune system. Elderberries grow wild. The syrup is antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer due to it's raw honey content. Incidentally elderberry in itself is an excellent source of Vitamin B 17, as well as other important antioxidants and phytonutrients. Elderberry Syrup should be taken daily during the Mono phase of EBV and beyond to improve and maintain health.Golden Seal Throat Spray with Echinacea is antibacterial and alleviates respiratory symptoms and swelling while soothing and healing the throat. Use as needed to ease throat pain.Cat's Claw is a plant who's bark is used for medicine. The name cat's claw comes from the thorns on the plant's leaves that look like the claws of a cat. Cat's Claw is a useful herb that acts as a natural steroid, bringing down inflammation of the throat, liver and/or spleen, while lowering EB's viral load.Red Clover is a herbaceous species of flowering plant from the bean family. It is cleansing to the lymphatic system, the liver and the spleen. Like L-lysine, Red Clover is also helpful in taking down EBV and stopping it dead in its tracks. Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. Lemon Balm is essential in ending EBV since, it too is antiviral. Lemon Balm also helps to calm digestion as well as the nervous system.Turmeric is arguably the most powerful at reversing disease and is a  highly powerful anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is a safer replacement for ibuprofen thanks to its main ingredient curcumin, and can be taken by capsule, juiced or as a fresh tea.

Having the above remedies on hand is the best defense you've got Mono. These strategies will prove highly effective in stopping EBV from setting up camp in your organs and wrecking havoc on your body.  Keeping your diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in fat will not only help to heal Mono, but will work in lessening and even eradicating EB's destructive viral load for good. The Amazon links to all of these remedies are available for you on my supplements page. 

Take care of you! 

The Common Sense Alternative To Epipens Is Changing Your Diet

The alternative to spending your hard earned cash on the unreasonably escalated costs of Epipens is common sense, boiling down to one practical and simple adjustment: changing your diet. If that sounds too simplistic to you, that may be because it is (and way less expensive too.)

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America claims allergic disease, including asthma, is the fifth leading chronic disease in the U.S. in people of all ages. That means, allergies affect as many as 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States -- that's a whooping 50 million people.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is an abnormal sensitivity to a substance, or substances, that are harmless to other individuals. Symptoms such as hay fever, hives, asthma and migraines are often the most common symptoms associated with allergic reactions. Alarmingly, one in 50 Americans has experienced anaphylaxis -- a deadly reaction to food or medication.

This is where the Epipen comes in. When an allergic reaction occurs and there's a threat of a deadly reaction, many people rely on medication. The medication in Epipens is called epinephrine. Epinephrine has become the most relied on, first line of defense to treat a severe allergic reaction. That being said, epinephrine is necessary once a reaction develops however, it is only putting a band aid on the problem.

While it's true that sensitivity is not cause, but merely a link in a chain, it is more important to understand what makes one sensitive, than to know what he is sensitive to. To illustrate, let's look at hay fever. The harmless cause of hay fever is pollen. Is the pollen poisonous? No. Many people do not suffer from breathing in pollen. However, if the pollen bothers some but not all people, then it can't be the pollen causing the problem. It has to be the overall health of the individual reacting to it. This brings us to my point about diet.

Poor Diet Is The Cause of Allergies in Both Adults and Children

A recent study from The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network provides new insights about how diet affects allergies, especially in children. The study suggests that changes in the European diet for the last 20-40 years may have contributed to allergic incidences in both children and adults during this period.

According to The American Institute for Cancer Research, ultra-processed foods make up 59 percent of total calorie intake while, unprocessed or minimally processed foods made up about a third of Americans' total calories which tells us GMOs, added sugars, preservatives, additives, coloring make up most of the American diet.

A Human Body Cannot Live On A Processed Food Diet And Be Healthy

For many Americans health is a birthright. We enter this world with vitality and a clean slate of health. Think of taking a college course. The professor tells his/her class on the first day that everyone has started out with an "A". The professor then tells the class that the work they do during the semester will either maintain that "A" or lower the grade. It's the works the same way with your health. Most of us start out with this 'A' grade at birth, until we are unnecessarily medicated or adopt a processed food habit. This is when we begin to develop allergic sensitivities.

With the Standard American Diet being fast, processed and unhealthy, it's an unknown fact that improper diet is the one driving factor contributing to allergies, and causing the body to react to everything else it encounters; the air, the environment, or a pet . In a sense the human body can become a live wire, sensitive to everything it encounters.

Your Nutrition Is Inherited But Your Allergies Are Not

Nutrition is fundamental. It is not only necessary to maintain our race, but to improve it. Generally, given superior nutrition, living organisms are not only able to maintain their inheritance, but to add to it. Your constitution of health is passed down from generation to generation, not by genetics, but by heredity. To illustrate, if you were born of a parent with a poor constitution of health due to poor nutrition, you may inherit nutritional deficiencies. Add to that being started on processed food diet of baby formula or being fed breastmilk from a nutritionally deficient parent. This lack of proper nutrition lays the ground work for intolerances, also known as allergies. 

Additionally, people who suffer from allergies often suffer from many toxemic reactions, such as colds including bronchial and sinus infections. In fact, ask any allergic person about their history of childhood diseases, runny noses, colds, and flu. They have become super sensitive to the world around them.

Correct Allergies By Correcting Diet

Toxemic conditions are caused by acidic diets. The recommended fast and processed food, sugar-laden, high protein Standard American Diet has left many adults and a record amount of America children allergic to nearly everything around them. The way to reverse allergies and avoid the need for an Epipen is by correcting diet. 

According to the CDC, only 1 in 10 Americans eats enough fruits and vegetables. This is a dangerous and telling practice. Common sense should tell us that the human body should not work against its food. Instead, the body should work in harmony with its food and science backs this up. In a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, babies who ate fewer processed foods and more fruits and vegetables, had less allergies. 

Additionally, the Harvard School of Public Health, weighs in on cost, saying that on average, eating healthy only costs $1.50 more in comparison to eating unhealthy. The researchers found that healthier diet patterns—diets rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts—cost significantly more than unhealthy diets (for example, those rich in processed foods, meats, and refined grains). However, this price difference is very small on average in comparison to the economic costs of diet-related chronic diseases, such as allergies, which would be dramatically reduced by healthy diets.

The true savior against allergic reactions has repeatedly revealed itself to be a nourishing, natural diet high in fresh, (preferably organic) fruits and vegetables. Taking this natural, common sense approach to diet; will end most allergic reactions, eliminating America's Epipen crutch for good.

 

 

 

 

One Significant Way To Avoid Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common affliction of the lungs that can become serious, or even deadly. What most people don't know about pneumonia though, is that it's a symptom, not a disease, and it happens mostly to people who eat high protein diets.

What, you say? Pneumonia is diet related? Shut. The. Front. Door.

Let me preface the following information by telling you this one simple truth: all disease begins with a weakened body, pneumonia included. What causes a weakened body, you ask?  A combination of two things; the lifestyle choices you make and your diet. End of story.

Now, I've been known to eat grass-fed and pastured raised animal protein occasionally, so I'm not getting on a soap box here .... but it's important to understand the significance of how a diet that burdens the body causes every disease, not just pneumonia.

Mucus causing animal protein and dairy can lay the foundation for illness.

Pneumonia usually appears suddenly although it is often preceded by a cold or bronchitis, which incidentally, are brought on by an acidic diet. Symptoms include severe chills followed by a sudden rise in body temperature. There are chest pains, a severe cough and sometimes blood-streaked mucus. Sputum can become orange-yellow, even prune juice colored. There's rapid heart action and yes, near collapse is possible.  

Pneumonia can also be caused by the flu or following a medical procedure, however, in most cases, those following the Standard American Diet have already laid the the groundwork for the development of disease. 

How a body processes a bad diet leads to all disease, not just pneumonia. 

Eggs, dairy, beans and cereals, or other high protein foods eaten in large quantities, coupled with the daily stresses of life, impedes and often weakens the digestive process. When digestion is chronically weakened, and becomes enervated and toxemic from acidosis, disease develops. 

To illustrate, fully digesting a high protein meal, like a steak dinner for example, can often take days, where eating high amounts of fruits and vegetables can take hours of digestion time, if not that. A diet that takes days to digest will certainly cause a high amount of stress to the digestive organs and the body in general, since digestion is the body's largest use of energy. It's also the reason you feel tired after eating a large meal.

There's also a strong lack of nourishment involved in eating a poor diet. Many high protein and processed food diets are low in nourishment compared with a diet high in fruits and vegetables. This will leave you deficient, which also leads to disease

All disease can be prevented by making diet and lifestyle changes.

Generally, if you do contract pneumonia, it's important to take a good look at the diet and lifestyle choices that have lead up to the onset of disease: Ask yourself the following questions.

Have I been eating too high in protein?Have I been overeating?Am I overworked?Am I stressed?Have I been getting adequate sleep?Have I been eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables?

Although the medical profession freely admits it has never had a cure for pneumonia, this has not prevented the majority of pneumonia sufferers from recovering on their own. This is because pneumonia in itself is a curative process. The high death rate is often attributed to the treatment, not the disease. 

Once you have determined what lifestyle factors have lead to pneumonia you can often take the necessary, but opposite, steps to heal it.

Rest is of the utmost importance during illness and the most necessary to facilitate the process of healing.Quiet helps a body to be restful and begin it's healing work. A quiet room with little distractions helps a body focus on healing and get the rest it needs.Fasting is essential during disease. Not eating rests the digestive organs, slowing physiological activity so the body can begin its elimination and healing processes. This is often why liquids, such as water, fresh juices and nourishing broths are highly recommended during this time.A sunny room speeds healing. Scientific research has shown that patients in rooms that face the sun heal faster than those in rooms that do not.Open a window for fresh air during the day and night, provided you don't live in a polluted area. Use a blanket to provide warmth. Both are necessary to attain a flow of proper ventilation and adequate rest. 

The fact that so many people heal from pneumonia, even with medications, is a testament to the body's self-curing ability. Under intelligent care, proper diet and mindful lifestyle choices, pneumonia can be healed and health can be restored. Seeking holistic nutritional guidance can be the first step in avoiding not only pneumonia, but all disease.

 

One Not So Obvious Sign Of Vitamin C Deficiency

You've finally made your way to the beach. You set up your chair, sit down to soak up the warm summer sun, then bury your foot in the sand because your big toe is gray and, well, funky. Goodness knows you've tried everything to heal the toe -- tea tree oil, epsom soaks, medicating creams, cutting the nail off, but the funk keeps returning. So there you sit, foot buried in sand, paranoid and praying no one notices the funk that is your toe.

Sound familiar? You're not alone.

Astoundingly, ten percent of Americans are embarrassed by toe fungus. Known by it's clinical name, onychomycosis, toe fungus is caused by a pathogen commonly known as Candida. More seriously, toe fungus is one sign of vitamin deficiency, as well as an early indication of a decline in the immune system.  

Yes, you read that right.

Your amazing human body works hard every day to protect from environmental toxins, additives and chemicals in your food, alcohol, physical and emotional stress, and to protect you from disease. When your body is doing well, there's generally a feeling of vitality and wellness. However, when there is early stage disease, the body will show its first symptoms in the extremities. This is your body's way of a) protecting the organs and b) alerting you of weakening health.

Too often we pass off tell-tale symptoms as harmless, but with many chronic conditions the accumulation of these symptoms may be trouble some, such as hair loss and brittle nails with thyroid disease, or acne caused by streptococcus in the body, or unexplained weight gain, boils, or psoriasis due to liver problems. Symptoms appear to warn us of deficiency and disease at it's most reversible stages.

With 90% percent of the population not eating fruits and vegetables, it's no wonder toe fungus, skin conditions, lack of energy, bleeding gums, poor healing of wounds, nose bleeds, colds and chronic inflammation are prevalent. 

Luckily, Vitamin C deficiency, toe fungus and many other symptoms can be easily reversed by making mindful lifestyle changes. Some easy ways to reverse Vitamin C deficiency and heal are to increase your intake of whole foods that are high in Vitamin C. These are:

Red bell peppersDark leafy greens,KiwifruitBroccoliBerries: Wild blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and StrawberriesCitrus fruitsTomatoesPeasPapaya

In addition to eating more of the above mentioned foods daily, you can further jack-up your Vitamin C intake by making Rosehip tea a habit as well as supplementing with highly absorbable types of Vitamin C, like Liposomal Vitamin C or Ester-C.  

Because Vitamin C is needed by your body to form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels, you will find it to be highly essential for the repair of tissues in all parts of your body, especially the toes.

 

 

 

 

 

The # 1 Daily Habit That Will Add Years To Your Life

If you could change one habit every day that didn't involve endless hours of pumping iron at the gym or conflicts with your schedule (in fact, this habit saves you time) could you do it? 

Sure you could.

The magic bullet to regaining your health comes down to one small change in your daily routine. Admittedly, this isn't easy to do, however, changing just one habit is a small price to pay for a beneficial gain, but this change is simple; adjust your breakfast habit.

Adjusting this one breakfast habit will make a tremendous impact on your digestion, gut health, weight, energy levels, male/female fertility, skin clarity, and will improve liver and brain function while dramatically increasing your intake of essential trace minerals and nutrients. Swapping out this one daily habit will alleviate aches and pains, relieve joint pain, reduce inflammation, vastly improve your oral and heart health and it will extend your life. To enjoy these healthful benefits, you'll want to create a fresh start by making fruit part of your morning ritual. Swapping out your morning muffin, bagel, cereal, energy bar, bacon and eggs, or whey protein powder shake with three (or more), delicious, nourishing, healing, succulent, non-inflammatory, glorious fruits for breakfast every day will dramatically turnaround health within thirty days (and help make your new habit permanent). 

Here are a dozen quick reasons for why fruit is beneficial for breakfast:

Fruit is the fastest food on earth, requiring no prep time or cooking.Fruit is quickly and easily digested and non-stressing to the digestive tract. Fruit is alkaline and helps to maintain the body's alkaline reserves, protecting the bones and your calcium levels.Fruit provides much needed natural glucose to the brain and liver that you will surely need access to throughout the day.Fruit is fiber-rich.Fruit is incredibly hydrating (reducing the need for BPA-filled bottled water)relieves constipation.Fruit is non-inflammatory.Fruit is a highly nourishing source of vitamins and essential trace minerals.Fruit will help improve overall mood according to studies (see below).Fruit is a healing food.Fruit prevents cancer and other diet related diseases.

Let's not forget how important vegetables are too. New research published in the British Journal of Psychology, reports on data collected and analyzed from 405 young adults on whether eating fruits (and vegetables) associates with markers of well being. Subjects of the study kept a diary for 13 days, keeping track of what they ate and what's called their eudaemonic well being -- their state of feeling happy, healthy and meaningful, as well as feelings of well-being, curiosity, creativity, and good and bad moods. Results showed that young adults who ate more fruit and vegetables reported higher average eudaemonic well being --  more intense feelings of curiosity, and greater creativity compared with those who ate less of these foods.

Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that high intake of vegetables and fruits lowers the risk of chronic disease. Additionally, a report published in The BMJ concluded that higher fruit intake during adolescence was associated with a lower risk for breast cancer.

Excellent fruits to eat for breakfast include:

GrapesRed applesPearsMelonPapayaCucumbers (yes, they're a fruit)AvocadoBerries (especially Wild Blueberries, which are incredibly healing.)

The reason fruit is an excellent food to eat in the morning is because it digests quickly, alleviates constipation and provides less work for the digestive organs, leaving you with enough brain power to make it to lunch. On the downside, if fruit is eaten after a meal, it tends to get stuck behind foods that take longer to process through the digestive tract, thereby causing the release of toxic ammonia gas into the blood stream (much like a fish tank.)

Fruit is available wherever food is sold, may also be purchased locally or can conveniently be homegrown. All fruit should be organic whenever possible. Feel free to enjoy frozen organic fruit when the fruit you desire is not in season. 

Happy Habit Changing!